A rose to Main Street Columbus for another successful “Sounds of Summer” concert series at the Riverwalk. The series ended Thursday with a big turnout with Deacon Jones & The Late Night providing the entertainment. Columbus is fortunate to have a perfect venue for outdoor concerts. Events such as this are a chance for the community to come together. We salute Main Street for its efforts in providing this family-friendly series and encourage more use of our wonderful Riverwalk for community events.
A rose to Steel Dynamics Inc., an Indiana-based steel producer and metal recycler, which has agreed to purchase the Severstal steel plant in Lowndes County for a reported $1.6 billion. We also send a parting rose to Severstal, whose arrival here was an economic boon for the area. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Executives from Steel Dynamics say they have no plans to change the plant’s operations. The plant employs about 650 people. We welcome Steel Dynamics to our community and wish them a great return on their investment in our community.
A rose to the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors, who unanimously approved new ordinances governing the operations of nightclubs in the county. Until now, the nightclubs had operated with few restraints, guidelines or rules and the results have sometimes been tragic, as was the case in March when five people were shot outside the Club Rock nightclub. The new rules govern hours of operation (1 a.m. closing time and premises must be vacated by 1:30 a.m.), annual permits, security, capacity and lighting, among other issues. All of these measures will do much to ensure the safety of patrons and nearby residents. The county will be a safer, better place as a result of these moves.
A rose to the Mississippi High School Activities Association, which agreed last week to move the state’s high school football championships from Jackson, where it has been held since 1992, to Mississippi State and Ole Miss on a rotating basis. MSU will host the six title games in December this year and again in 2016. Ole Miss will host in 2015 and 2017. The facilities at MSU and Ole Miss are far better than the aging Mississippi Memorial Stadium. The change will offer a marked improvement for the players, fans and parents. The move also will provide an economic boost to both Starkville and Oxford — and, most likely, Columbus, too — during a time of year when business is typically slow.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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